City edge Westfields despite early scare

City rallied back from going a goal behind to see of Westfields on Saturday afternoon, and move closer to another club record after recording their thirteenth straight victory in all competitions.

There were just two changes from Tuesday's victory over Brimscombe & Thrupp in the Wiseman Lighting Cup, with Lorcan Sheehan stepping into the back four for the ill Chris Knight, in absence of Kirk Layton due to suspension. Elliott Hartley also returned to the starting eleven in place of Izak Reid, with Jordan Lymn and Cam Monteith continuing their recent partnership in the middle of midfield. Dylan Hart again led the line after returning from injury.

A major boost to City was the return of both Connor Gater and Calvin Dinsley to the substitutes bench, with huge games coming up for Chris Cornes' side.

The game didn't begin as planned for City though who were a goal behind inside just two minutes. Barnes was played in over the top, beating City's offside trap, and was then able to square the ball for Dan Stoneman, turning past Whitcombe and into the back of the net. Not the best start and City caught napping early on.

Chances aplenty followed for both sides, with Westfields' Clarke passing up the best opportunity, seizing on a rare misjudgement from Elliott Keightley before poking the ball past the far post and out for a goal kick, a brilliant opportunity that almost saw Westfields go two goals up.

The away side grew into the game and after a foul on Jordan Lymn, Liam Lockett went close from the resulting free kick, taking a deflection on it's way towards goal and coming off the crossbar and away. A fantastic ball across goal from Elliott Hartley also created a scramble in the Westfields six yard box, but there was no City man on the end of it and another chance went begging.

City finally created their breakthrough just after the half hour. A brilliant ball forward by Logan Stoddart was brought down expertly by Dylan Hart, before incoming Westfields pressure bundled him to the ground, and the referee awarding a City penalty. Up stepped Kyle Belmonte from the spot who made no mistake, pulling his penalty across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

Elliott Hartley was inches away from an almost instant complete turnaround when heading over following an Adam Mace corner, but the score remained 1-1 into the break.

City began the second half immediately on the front foot and it was Elliott Hartley with another header, this time perfectly lofted over the oncoming Blackburn from a Mace forward ball and into the back of the net, that saw them take the lead for the first time in the afternoon. Minutes later, Dylan Hart was played clear in behind, and it was only the recovery tackle from Clarke that stopped him adding to the scoreline.

Two became three when Lorcan Sheehan rose highest at the near post from Liam Lockett's in-swinging corner, a fantastic reward for his loyalty to the club this season and patience in waiting for his opportunity. It was a goal loved by the City players, with every outfielder rushing to celebrate with Lorcan.

Liam Lockett was denied from point blank range by Blackburn on the hour, and from resulting corner Dylan Hart managed to bundle the ball into the back of the net, but that attempt was ruled out by the referee for a foul in the build-up.

The comeback was complete deep into the game on 85 minutes, when Dylan Hart cut the ball back into the box for Liam Lockett, who after a first touch dispatched into the back of the net, wrapping up the points for City and sending The Faithful home happy from Hereford.

Taylor Townsend thought he'd gotten City's fifth of the afternoon, celebrating with a fantastic back flip too in front of the crowd, but his effort was ruled out for a foul in the build-up.

City remain three points clear at the top of the table after other results around them, moving another game closer to their promotion target.